RCMP union bill faces delay as senators demand further study

In an extraordinary move, the Senate committee studying a bill to give Mounties the right to collective bargaining today abandoned plans to give the bill clause-by-clause consideration.

The public meeting, which convened an hour later than scheduled, went in camera for another hour before adjourning abruptly.

• Senate set to make major changes to RCMP union bill
• Parliament misses Supreme Court deadline for RCMP union bill
• Goodale hints at changes to RCMP union bill amid rank-and-file concerns

The bill's sponsor in the Red Chamber, independent Senator Larry Campbell, said the committee would reconvene on Monday to hear from new witnesses.

"We want to get this right and I'm not in any rush to get it done," said Campbell.

CBC News has learned the committee wants to hear from RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson.

Senators have expressed many concerns with the bill, such as the sheer number of issues the legislation excludes from the collective bargaining process. As it stands now, the bill would give Mounties the right to negotiate pay and benefits — and that's about it.

Earlier this week, senators repeatedly questioned senior RCMP managers why members should not be allowed to negotiate everything — from discipline and staffing levels to harassment and equipment.

Goodale pushing a compromise

On Monday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale asked committee members for two days to come up with a compromise.

His proposal, obtained by CBC News, is for his department to "strike an independent committee of eminent Canadians with the necessary experience and stature to review the exclusions currently in Bill C-7 and to report to us on their appropriateness and justification."

The committee would be formed after the bill is passed, but Goodale said it would be considered before the start of any collective bargaining.

Goodale also pledged to work on strengthening an RCMP workplace service program, which was created by Paulson after he abolished the existing staff relations program. The minister said the program "needs to be a useful service to members and reservists individually during any initial, pre-unionization period."

While the committee may welcome that initiative, it is doubtful senators will accept Goodale's offer to have experts examine the exemptions after the bill is passed.

Senators have been clear that they want to get this right the first time.

"We continue to hear what the RCMP needs. We continue to hear what the executive of the RCMP needs. We continue to hear what the government needs. It's only the Supreme Court of Canada that talks about what the members need, and we haven't heard that," said Conservative Senator Vern White, a former police chief and assistant commissioner of the RCMP.

CBC News has also learned that senators want to hear from prominent Montreal labour lawyer and workplace consultant A. Edward Aust.

In 2012, the RCMP hired him on a sole-source contract to review the mandate, structure and operations of the force's now disbanded pay council, which permitted the now disbanded staff relations representative program to have a voice when negotiating pay and benefits.

The report, tabled with the Senate committee this week, is revealing. Aust recommended far more co-operation between senior brass of the RCMP and front-line members.

"The recommended mandate, in addition to providing for exchanges with respect to compensation, would include providing for exchanges concerning all workplace goals including hiring, promotion and discipline," his report said.

It is unclear whether the force shared its $98,500 report with the Treasury Board, which drafted Bill C-7.

"I think the Aust report identifies some serious concerns when it comes to labour relations at the RCMP that actually show up again in the Supreme Court of Canada decision, and I don't hear a response to either of those in this legislation," said White.